Princess Kako Shines Through a Grueling Schedule Even in the Summer Heat

Light beige coordinated outfit (or light beige suit set)

“I would like to express my heartfelt sympathies to those affected and sincerely hope that the rebuilding of their lives and the restoration of the forests will progress smoothly.”

On May 10, the “Green Thanksgiving Festival,” hosted by the Forestry Agency and others, was held at Iino Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Princess Kako (30), dressed in a calm, light beige coordinated outfit, attended and expressed her thoughts for the victims of the frequent wildfires this year.

“As the honorary president of the Green Thanksgiving Festival, Princess Kako took the stage and gave a speech. She also had moments of interaction with children, such as receiving a bouquet on stage,” said a court affairs reporter from a national newspaper.

Princess Kako is scheduled to make an official visit to Brazil from June 4 to 17. In preparation, she has begun serious training, including briefings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Latin America and Caribbean Bureau chiefs, according to Shinji Yamashita, a former Imperial Household Agency official and imperial affairs commentator.

“For official overseas visits, it’s typical to receive briefings not only from senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials but also from university professors and ambassadors to Japan. Preparation involves reviewing materials and composing speeches, among many other tasks.”

Preparations for the Brazil visit began on April 10. Alongside travel preparations, Princess Kako has been actively engaged in public duties, including garden parties, a visit to Ishikawa Prefecture, and the recent Green Thanksgiving Festival. Her schedule has been demanding.

“The itinerary in Brazil will also be intense. She will visit eight cities in two weeks and deliver speeches tailored to each location. Creating eight different speeches is challenging. Brazil’s vast territory is mostly tropical, making travel physically taxing; it will be an extremely demanding visit,” Yamashita added.

Why such a strenuous schedule? According to the court affairs reporter quoted earlier, “There is a special connection between Brazil and the Imperial family.”

“Before the war, the late Emperor Emeritus was deeply concerned about Japanese immigrants to Brazil. Starting with the current Emperor’s visit in 1982, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko also chose Brazil as their first overseas destination. Princess Kako respects this history as well.

There are still Japanese-Brazilian communities scattered across the country. To equally honor those who endured harsh labor and their descendants, many places are scheduled to be visited. Additionally, Princess Kako may have a desire to improve the image of the Akishino family following ongoing troubles.”

For Japanese descendants longing for their homeland, meeting the princess will surely be a much-anticipated event.

“Japanese-Brazilians will likely look forward to seeing her in kimono, so she might wear traditional attire despite the intense heat. We hope she will contribute to goodwill between the two countries and return safely and healthy,” said Yamashita.

The “Diana of the East” is expected to brighten the hearts of the local people with her brilliant work.

From the May 30, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”